Package and closure element therefor



March 13, 1934. e. w. BROWNFIELD BACKAGE AND CLOSURE ELEMENT THEREFOR Filed July 17. 1933 Patented Mar. 13, 1934 PACKAGE AND CLOSURE ELEMENT THEREFOR George Washington Brownfield, Washington, D. 0.

Application July 17, 1933, Serial No. 680,837

9 Claims.

This invention relates to packages and means for closing the same, and more particularly to packages having flexible walls capable of being twisted or gathered to form a strand for passage through a bore of a confining element, which strands in some forms of the invention have their extending ends loosened to provide enlargements for retaining the respective confining element in position.

The diificulty encountered in the packaging of merchandise is one of the principal marketing problems and, While important advances have been made in the art of packaging low cost merchandise during the past few years, the objections to such packages have not entirely been overcome.

It has been found that as between merchandise of equal quality and price, the purchaser will normally buy the merchandise contained in an attractive or novel package and for this reason considerable attention has been given during recent years to the production of novel, attractive and inexpensive packages.

This invention has as an object the production of a confining closure member for packages and the production of a package having flexible walls adapted to be gathered into a strand with the confining closure member secured thereon.

It is contemplated by this invention to produce a package, as above set forth,-whe rein the confining closure member is formed into a shape and coated to resemble some object to thereby produce a novel efiect as well as aid in the securing of the package in closed condition. The invention further contemplates the production of the confining closure member so that it resembles a-portion of an object either due to its shape or color markings, or to both shape and color marking, with the remaining or an additional portion of the representation being formed by the shape or color markings on the body of the package.

An additional object of the invention is the production of a package in the nature of a flexible walled bag having its walls adjacent the filling end twisted into a strand and extending through .an open bore in a confining member with the strand opened and flared at its extreme end in a manner to overlie the confining member, and particularly a bag of such construction formed of cellophane or similar material which is resistant to moisture and generally air-tight and which has a natural aifinity for itself whereupon the twisted strand will remain tightly secured and the package will be securely sealed.

Other objects and advantages will be apparent from the following detailed description when considered in connection with the accompanying drawing, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of one form of 66 package and confining closure member made in accordance with this invention, the respective elements being shaped and marked to resemble a doll,

Fig. 2 is a sectional view taken on line 22 of Fig. 1,

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the confining closure member shown in Fig. 1,

Figs. 4, 5 and 6 are modified forms of confining closure members which may be used in connection with bags having walls which can be folded or twisted so as to be passed through the respective member desired,

Fig. 7 illustrates a modified manner of utilizing a confining closure member in the securing of the bag in closed position,

Fig. 8 is another modified manner of utilizing a confining closure member in conjunction with the bag, and

Figs. 9 and 10 are modified forms of packages gs in which a confining closure member as shown in Fig. 4 is utilized in connection with an ornaental head piece.

Now referring to the drawing in detail, the numeral 1G designates a bag which may be of any well known construction in which the upper portion 11 thereof, as indicated in dotted lines in Fig.

1, may be folded or twisted. The twisted portion is shown in the form of a strand at 12.

The bag 10 may have its lower or base portion formed in accordance with the forms of packages illustrated in my copending application for United States patent, Serial Number 669,603, filed May 5, 1933, since it is desired to employ a bag having a base portion which will support the receptacle in upright position when the same is filled. Furthermore, the bag is preferably constructed of cellophane or a similar material not only for the reason that this material affords proper protection for the merchandise, but for the reason that it is relatively still with respect to most paper employed in bag manufacture and is therefore well adapted to retain the shape given to the upper end of the strand 12. 1 In the form shown in Figshl to 3 inclusive, the closure confining element or member 13 is spherical and is provided with an opening 14, and markings are made thereon to cause the same to generally resemble the face of a person, the face no resemblance being produced on one side only or on opposite sides of the element 13 as desired. 7

Above the element 13 the strand 12 is preferably loosened and flattened out or otherwise shaped as at 15 so as to retain the element 13 upon the strand and at the same time create the impression of the existence of a hat or hair upon the head element 13.

It is preferred that the representation be car ried over into the body of the bag and the bag is therefore preferably printed to give the effect of a garment below the element 13 as indicated at 16.

In the form shown in Fig. 4 the confining closure element 13a is of tubular formation and such a construction has the general advantages of the form of element shown in Figs. 1 to 3 inclusive insofar as the securing of the bag in closed position is concerned and it has the added advantage that the tube is particularly well suited for the reception of printed advertising or identification matter thereon. Furthermore, this tubular member may be slit as at 1'? to permit it to be forced laterally over the strand 12.

In the form illustrated in Fig. 5 the element 13b is in the form of a spherical shell formed preferably of some light weight material, such as celluloid, and it is molded to the shape desired and provided with openings 14?).

In the form of confining closure member illustrated in Fig. 6 a slot 18 is formed in the side of the element 130 so that it may be forced over the strand 12 and be held thereon by friction. In this form of confining closure member the material employed is preferably of a resilient nature and of such weight that it will readily remain clamped upon the strand 12.

It is to be understood that the various confining closure elements illustrated may be varied in shape and character depending upon the representation desired and that they are preferably constructed of some light weight material. I have found that wood is suitable when the form of element used does not cause the weight there of to be prohibitive, and I have also found that a material such as light metal, or celluloid may be used advantageously.

It is to be understood that the element 130 may be formed of hollow thin celluloid while still obtaining the advantages of the employment of the slot 18 but when a solid element is employed, as illustrated, some material such as felt, cork, or sponge rubber is particularly suitable.

In using the package and confining closure member in the manner illustrated in Fig. 1, it is only necessary that the operator fill the bag 10 to the desired height, twist the free end of the bag to form the strand 12 and then pass the element 13 over the strand after which the upper end of the strand is separated and flattened out as at 15. The package is then ready for marketing and the contents thereof are protected and presented for sale in an attractive yet inexpensive package.

In the utilization of the bag and confining closure element as illustrated in Fig. '7, the bag is filled by the operator to the desired height and the element is placed within the bag upon the contents thereof afterwhich the free end of the bag is twisted to form the strand 12, and the strand is then forced downwardly into the opening 14 where it is secured in position by the frictional resistance.

Utilization of the bag and confining closure element in the manner illustrated in Fig. 8 is made by the operator filling the bag to the desired height and then twisting the free end thereof or confining the free end thereof by a string or other tie elements as indicated at 19. The element 13 is then placed into the outwardly flaring free end of the bag after which the extreme free end is twisted to form a strand 12 which is thereafter forced into the bore 14 of the element 13. The forms of the invention illustrated in both Figures '7 and 8 require that the strand be sufficiently loose adjacent the opening in the closure confining element so that it can be forced into the opening with the loose portion extending within the opening and housing the twisted portion.

In both forms of the invention as illustrated in Figs. 9 and 10, a tubular element such as 13a is utilized. In Fig. 9 a head member 20 is employed which member has a projection 21 which is forced into the strand 12 and thereby secured in position. In the form shown in Fig. 10, the portion 15 of the strand is shown folded down on the exterior of the tube 13a and the head 21a has an open end which is forced over the tube and the portion 15 so as to bind the latter to the tube.

When the cellophane is utilized to cover the confining closure element such as in the manner illustrated in Figs. 7 and 8, the representation effected by the confining closure element may be printed or otherwise marked on that portion of the cellophane which overlies the element and the element left without surface ornamentation.

It is, of course, to be understood that any of the elements illustrated may be employed in connection with the various forms illustrated for utilization of the bag 10 and that various changes in the detailed manner of utilization may be had without departing from the scope of the appended claims.

What I claim is:

l. A package comprising a bag having its wall adjacent its normally open end reduced into a strand, and a confining closure member having an elongated passageway through which the reduced portion of the bag extends.

2. A package comprising a bag having its walls adjacent its normally open end reduced into a strand, and a confining closure member having an open confined bore through which the reduced portion of the bag extends.

3. A package comprising a bag portion having its walls adjacent its normally open end reduced into a strand, and a light weight hollow confining closure member open at both ends through which the reduced portion of the bag extends.

4. A package comprising a bag portion having its Walls adjacent its normally open end reduced into a strand, and a confining closure member formed with a slot extending from one side thereof in which the reduced portion of the bag is received for maintaining the bag in closed condition.

'5. A method of packaging merchandise comprising filling a bag having flexible Walls adjacent its normally open end, folding or twisting the Walls above the content of the bag to reduce it into a strand, and passing a confining closure member over the strand whereby the strand extends through the confining closure member, and loosening the strand above the confining closure member to provide an enlargement. p

6. A package comprising a bag portion having its walls adjacent its normally open end reduced into a strand, and a confining closure member having an elongated passageway through which the reduced portion extends, said confining closure member being formed to represent an object such as a head or the like and the bag body having marked thereon a representation which cooperates with the representation of the confining closure member to complete the subject represented.

7. A device for securing the walls of a bag in the form of a strand for maintaining the bag in closed condition which comprises a body having an elongated passageway therethrough in which the strand of the bag is adapted to extend.

8. A device for securing the walls of a bag in the form of a strand for maintaining the bag in GEORGE WASHINGTON BROWNFIELD. 

